Digidesign Pro Tools LE Basics

Pro Tools LE systems (PC or Mac) enable you to record, edit, mix, master, and even deliver your finished product, using the same award-winning Pro Tools technology embraced by audio production professionals around the world.

Pro Tools LE offers a unique combination of power and simplicity. It is unequalled in the industry for its superior editing capabilities. It allows complete random-access, nondestructive recording and editing, and integrated digital mixing. Pro Tools LE also provides intuitive access to all the tools you need to arrange and manipulate audio and MIDI in a single workspace. Plus, the AutoSave session capability and multiple levels of Undo provide the security you need when working with sessions.

Pro Tools LE is a completely integrated digital mixing environment. It offers total recall of all mixing parameters and supports stereo tracks, edit and mix groups; and it provides complete automation of all volume, panning, mutes and plug-ins.The real-time mixer offers full routing flexibility, with five inserts and sends per track and a total of 16 busses.You can also route and mix the audio inputs and outputs of your favorite outboard gear in real-time.

The Industry Standard - its what the pros use...

Pro Tools LE sessions are completely transferable to the full Protools TDM-based sessions, used in more professional studios than any other software. This means if you upgrade to a TDM professional systems or use one when hiring a professional studio, all the recording, editing and mixing you did with Pro Tools LE is preserved. Plus, since nearly every major studio uses Pro Tools, an engineer at a commercial facility can open your Pro Tools LE session and get right to work re-mixing and mastering your session. Pro Tools LE even offers an integrated Track Import feature that allows you to import all the elements of the source audio or MIDI track, including edits, routing, plug-ins and their settings, and automation.

At that point, you\'re ready to go. Your audio, MIDI, and control information travel back and forth between your computer and your Pro Tools I/O unit via the FireWire or USB connection. It\'s that simple.

Choosing your System - Audio Hardware Options

Each of the Digidesign Pro Tools LE system includes a hardware interface - an Mbox, Digi 002 Rack, or Digi 002 I/O unit - for getting your audio and MIDI* into and out of your system, and the latest easy-to-use Pro Tools LE software for working with that same material. Additionally, all systems include bundled software products, such as plug-ins and sound design tools from Digidesign and our Development Partners, free of charge.

Mbox

Digi 002 Rack

Digi 002

Total simultaneous channels of I/O

2

18

18

Analog inputs

2

8

8

Mic preamps

2 (Focusrite)

4

4

48V phantom power

Yes

Yes

Yes

Analog outputs

2

8

8

Resolution

24-bit/48 kHz

24-bit/96 kHz

24-bit/96 kHz

Alternate source input

No

Yes

Yes

TRS (1/4\") inserts

Yes (stereo)

No

No

ADAT optical I/O

-

8

8

24-bit stereo S/PDIF digital I/O

Yes (RCA)

Yes (RCA)

Yes (RCA)

MIDI I/O

-

1-IN/2-OUT

1-IN/2-OUT

Headphone output with volume control

Yes (1/8\" and 1/4\")

Yes (1/4\")

Yes (1/4\")

Input for QuickPunch control

No

Yes

Yes

Connection

USB

FireWire

FireWire

Integrated control surface

No

No

Yes

Support for Digidesign control surfaces

Yes (Command|8, Control|24)

Yes (Command|8, Control|24)

Yes (Command|8, Control|24)

Standalone digital mixer mode

No

No

Yes

Rackmountable

No

Yes (2U)

No

Pro Tools LE software included

Yes

Yes

Yes

Digidesign ASIO, wave & core audio drivers

Yes

Yes

Yes

Pro Tools LE Software - Included with every System.

With its matchless combination of flexibility, power, and simplicity, Pro Tools software has become the industry standard for audio production. Pro Tools software allows you to harness the power of your Digidesign hardware to move your ideas from concept to completion — all with total ease and efficiency. With its unique balance of power and simplicity, Pro Tools software is also perfectly suited to those just getting into digital audio production for the first time. Given Pro Tools accommodating nature and extensive functionality, there’s simply no other system or software like it.

Pro Tools LE software ships with Digi 002, Digi 002 Rack, and Mbox as well as all LE Factory systems. It works in tandem with LE hardware to give the home and project studio community affordable access to achieving professional results.

Whatever your experience or capacity, Pro Tools software serves as the connection between your ideas and a wide range of production options. In addition to managing the functionality of your Digidesign hardware, it furthers your possibilities by enabling you to integrate third-party hardware and software into your production environment. From ReWire support to a huge selection of professional plug-in options, Pro Tools brings your creative universe together — making the process of audio production as efficient, effective, and fun as possible.

Plug Ins - Expand your Pro Tools system

Two types of plug-ins work with Pro Tools LE: Real-Time AudioSuite (RTAS) plug-ins use the computer’s processor to change or dynamically automate effects in real-time as the audio plays back. AudioSuite plug-ins allow you to create a new file with your processed audio. With each Pro Tools LE system from Dolphin Music comes the DigiRack bundle of high-quality Digidesign plug-ins to get you started, plus optional access to many more Digidesign and thrid party plug-ins as detailed below:

PC or Mac, The greater processing power and the more RAM you have, the better the performance of your system. Hopefuly you now know how much RAM and which processor, chipset, and Operating Software you have. Digidesign Compatibility Documents will tell you what elements you need for a supported computer, to work with your Pro Tools system.

Hopefully, your computer is supported. If not, you will need to get a supported computer, or replace the unsupported element in your computer.

Apple Mac - It Just Works

In the Pro Audio world professionals love their Macs. Only with a Mac do you get an operating system built by the same people who built the computer it runs on. Take a Mac out of its box, and you experience that hand-and-glove fit from the get-go. Plug it in. Turn it on. And you’re ready for anything. That’s because with a Mac, you’ll find all of the essentials built right in.

The Power Mac G5 is the dream machine for Music Production. These new generation Power Macintoshes are equipped with one or two of IBM‘s G5 processors, making 64 bit CPU technology available in personal computers for the first time. Buy NowMore Info

Miraculously engineered, the ultralight 17-inch PowerBook G4 is just 1-inch thin and 6.9 pounds, making it the thinnest and lightest notebook with a 17-inch display on the market today Buy NowMore Info

Windows XP

Although many of our customers are happily using Windows XP based computers remember that it is an open platform. PC manufacturers are able to use many different parts in their computers interchangeably, not to mention all the custom built computers that consumers can build themselves. Therefore, there is little consistency in how computers are built. It\'s impossible for Pro Tools systems to work on every configuration of PC there is. (Not to mention impossible for Digidesign to test every configuration of PCs to know how the performance will be).

Please take the time to find the compatibility of your PC. PCs that aren\'t compatible run the risk of not working at all, error messages that can\'t be solved, or poor system performance. Once you have a supported configuration, you will have the potential to have rock solid Pro Tools performance.

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